Trofimov on Russia's Past and Future
from The Cherry Orchard
Written by Anton Chekhov
Trofimov, the 'eternal student,' passionately explains to Anya the moral cost of their family's wealth and the necessity of labor to redeem Russia's past. He urges her to abandon her aristocratic life and embrace a future of freedom and suffering for the sake of a coming happiness.
TROFIMOV: All Russia is our orchard. The earth is broad and beautiful. There are many marvelous places. Think for a moment, Anya: your grandfather, your great-grandfather – all your forebears – they were the masters of serfs. They owned living souls. Can’t you see human faces, looking out at you fro
Create a free account to explore more
Upgrade to Pro for full access — £6.99/month
Director's Notes
Want expert coaching on this scene?
Browse our curated list of acting coaches, dialect specialists, and more.
Need representation?
Browse verified agents and casting directors in our directory.
How well does this scene match you?
Save your casting profile to see match scores on every scene.
Try Headshot AnalyserGo Pro
£6.99/mo
- ✓ Unlimited scene reading
- ✓ PDF downloads
- ✓ Director's Notes
- ✓ Headshot Analyser
- ✓ Cover Letter Generator
- ✓ Practice Mode
- ✓ Agent Connect
- + 1,000+ scenes
More from The Cherry Orchard
Act II — The Perpetual Student
from The Cherry Orchard
Trofimov, a perpetual student, inspires Anya to look beyond their family's aristocratic past and the loss of their estate. He speaks philosophically about the future of Russia and the necessity of freedom and hard work.
Varya's Monologue on Her Future
from The Cherry Orchard
Varya expresses her deep-seated anxieties regarding her unmarried status and the uncertain future following the sale of the family estate. She grapples with feelings of being unwanted and the fear of being forced into a convent life despite her desire for love and a home of her own.
Lyubov's Monologue on the Cherry Orchard
from The Cherry Orchard
Lyubov Andreyevna gazes out at her family's estate, reflecting on her lost innocence and the tragic personal history that led her away from home. She grapples with the crushing guilt of her past mistakes and the impending loss of the orchard, which she views as an inseparable part of her soul.
Lopakhin's Triumph
from The Cherry Orchard
Lopakhin returns from the auction to announce that he has purchased the family estate where his ancestors were once serfs. He experiences a manic surge of joy and vindication, declaring his plans to destroy the orchard to make way for modern villas.
Similar Scenes
Rosalind Scolds Phoebe
from As You Like It
Disguised as the youth Ganymede, Rosalind delivers a sharp-witted rebuke to the shepherdess Phoebe for her cruel treatment of the devoted Silvius. She humbles Phoebe's vanity by critiquing her appearance and urges her to accept a good man's love while she has the chance.
Act I — The Nose Speech
from Cyrano de Bergerac
Cyrano mockingly educates a young viscount on how to properly insult his large nose. He delivers a virtuosic display of wit, listing various creative ways to describe his prominent feature before insulting the viscount's own lack of intelligence.
Act III, Scene 1 — Claudio's Fear of Death
from Measure for Measure
Claudio expresses his visceral and overwhelming terror of death to his sister, Isabella. He vividly imagines the physical decay of the body and the potential spiritual torments of the afterlife, concluding that even the most miserable life is preferable to the unknown horrors of the grave.
Medea's Address to the Women of Corinth
from Medea
Medea delivers a powerful indictment of the social constraints placed upon women in Ancient Greece. She contrasts the domestic confinement and marital risks women face against the perceived glory of men in battle.
